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More than 500 people gathered outside San Mateo County’s newest addition, 500 County Center, to celebrate the unveiling of what officials proudly hailed as “the greenest civic building in the United States”—and to also mark the county’s 169th anniversary in festive style.
“This building reflects the values of this county,” said County Executive Mike Callagy. “We’ve built something our employees are proud of—and that’s welcoming to the public we serve.”
This year, the county celebrated its anniversary with the debut of a building that officials said sets a new national standard for sustainable public infrastructure.
Celebrations began at the San Mateo County History Museum, where attendees gathered under the rotunda. Board of Supervisors President David Canepa opened the event by wishing the county a “happy birthday” and recognizing several dignitaries in attendance, including Callagy, District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe, District 4 Supervisor Lisa Gauthier, as well as mayors, city managers and officials from across the region.
A reenactor portraying Horace Hawes — considered the father of San Mateo County — took the stage to explain how the county was formed in 1856 as part of a political compromise to separate the rural Peninsula from the “corruption-ridden government” of San Francisco.
Led by a color guard and a band, the crowd marched in a ceremonial procession from the museum to the new civic building at 500 County Center.
Outside the building, the celebration continued with music, speeches, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and free hot dogs. Redwood City Planning Commissioner Maggie Cornejo said the event and the design of the new facility reflect a shift in how government buildings are perceived by the public.
“In the past, government buildings have been scary for underserved communities,” Cornejo said. “I want this building to be inviting, to be a safe space for people to come in unafraid. And I think that’s already been happening in many ways.”
According to Sam Lin, the county’s director of project development, the 200,000-square-foot facility is the first government-owned building in the United States constructed with mass timber — a renewable, engineered wood product that significantly reduces embodied carbon compared to traditional building materials. The building is also designed to be net-zero energy, meaning it generates as much electricity as it consumes annually, Lin said. He added that rooftop solar panels power all major systems — from lighting and HVAC to computers — while energy-efficient design elements reduce overall usage.
Despite its sustainability features, Lin said the building was completed at a relatively modest cost of $900 to $950 per square foot, well below the $1,400 to $1,800 typical for new office buildings in California.
Several county departments have now moved into the building. The ground floor features the Board of Supervisors chambers with 140 seats and space for 150 additional attendees, along with a public café. The Human Services Agency occupies the first and second floors, providing services related to homelessness, child welfare and health care. The District Attorney’s Office is located on the third floor, while Human Resources and the County Counsel’s office are on the fourth. The fifth floor houses the County Executive Office and supervisors’ offices.
“This has been a great experience to come to work in a brand-new building that’s green, that takes care of itself when it comes to energy,” Gauthier said. “It allows me to come to work and be proud every day.”
For South San Francisco resident Markus Alvarez, the open nature of the event showed him that the county wants its people to know their government officials and how their tax money is being spent.
“It shows that it’s a progressive, modern and energy-efficient building,” Alvarez said.
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